Yankees reign in the rain

Game One: Yankees 2-3 Marlins Game two: Yankees 6-1 Marlins

The New York Yankees conjured up five runs in the final two innings to beat the Florida Marlins 6-1 and take a 2-1 World Series lead.

With the sides locked at 1-1 in the eighth, Hideki Matsui hit a single to left centre field off reliever Dontrelle Willis to score Derek Jeter for the go-ahead run.

And, after Aaron Boone homered in the ninth, Bernie Williams hit a record 19th post-season homer for another three runs to seal victory in a game which saw the first World Series rain delay for 10 years.

The Yankees now need just two more wins to take the best-of-seven series, with game four back at Pro Player Stadium on Wednesday.

It's a compliment that everybody thinks I'm a big-game player Hideki Matsui

Mike Mussina pitched seven strong innings for the Yankees, allowing one run on seven hits while striking out nine and walking one batter intentionally to out-duel Florida starter Josh Beckett.

Beckett gave up two runs on three hits in just over seven innings with 10 strikeouts and three walks.

Mariano Rivera pitched the final two innings for the Yankees to pick up the save.

"Experience is all about patience," said Yankees manager Joe Torre said. "Josh Beckett was not easy tonight. He didn't give up anything.

"We just didn't expand our zone. We stayed within ourselves, and, of course, Matsui, this guy's incredible."

A modest Matsui said: "It's a compliment that everybody thinks I'm a big-game player, but what I just focus on is to just try to do, based on the situation, what's best for the team."